> I will miss the genealogy column in the Carmi Times written by Charlene. And the many times, I visited the library in the past, I appreciated Janet's help. The staff at the library helped take me from a beginner to the point that I really knew what I am doing. I haven't visited the library recently because of physical problems, but I thank all three of the ladies that are quitting for their wonderful help and friendship. You will be missed greatly. Terri Lagneau > Subject: [ILWHITE] So this is good-bye... > Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 16:21:21 -0500 > From: "Pat Davis" <patdavis@midwest.net> > To: ILWHITE-L@rootsweb.com > > Charlene Shields is one of the co-founders of the Mary Smith Fay Genealogy > Library; she has been one of the most prolific and knowledgeable researchers > for the Library, and has spent thousands of hours of volunteer time working > at and for the Library. She has also, for several years, written a column > for the Carmi Times: "Notes from the Genealogy Library." > The title of this e-mail is the title of today's column, which appears > in full below: > > So this is good-bye . . . > Saying good-bye is always difficult, but surely writing good-bye is twice as > hard. I expect this to be my last column. I have determined it is time for > me to leave the library. > The library was begun in the mid-1980s, when Bob Wylie gave us half of > his one-room office space in the Ratcliff Inn. Janet Armstrong and Janet > Pritchet were the ones with the vision to start a genealogy library, and it > was started basically with what the volunteers could scrounge up and with > the blessings of the Historical Society. Janet Armstrong paid for bookcases > and brought in a typewriter. Others of us pitched in with buying smaller > items. It was a shoestring operation. > Later, my cousin Mary Smith Fay, a Carmi native living in Houston and a > dedicated genealogist, helped us out financially. The city gave the old > Carnegie building to the Historical Society for us to house our > ever-expanding operation. Mary Fay visited in my home each year and always > visited the library. She was delighted with our endeavors. At her death two > years ago, we learned she had left a considerable bequest to the library. > Since then we have bought a great deal of microfilm, CDs, books and > equipment. Dozens of volunteers have put in thousands of hours in doing > research for people away from here and in helping get the enlarging library > organized. We always had a dozen projects going. We are all immensely proud > of the library. > Recent developments at the library have convinced me that it's time for > me to leave. Janet Armstrong is quitting, also, and the librarian has > resigned. Now, if I may borrow a phrase from Ray Mitchell, "'Nuff Said." > One of the tasks I've most enjoyed during the past several years has > been writing this little column. I've enjoyed the input and comments from > readers. I shall miss you, and perhaps a few of you will miss me, too. > After having spent most of my spare time for the past 14 years working > on some library project, I'm looking for a new hobby. Anyone have one of > those little looms? Maybe I could start weaving pot holders. > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Re: [ILWHITE] So this is good-bye... > Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 19:09:14 EDT > From: BeeandBop31@aol.com > To: ILWHITE-L@rootsweb.com > > Pat, > I could cry! For several years now you three have been my friends even > though we have never met. I have notes from Janet and Charlene in my files > that they kindly sent me in addition to whatever I had requested. Most > people would have sent the books or whatever I had written them for, but they > went beyond the "duty" their volunteer status dictated and wrote the notes > offering more helpful information than I had any right to expect. > > As for you - I relied on you even before you moved to White County. Your > books have been invaluable for the armchair research that many (most?) of us > are forced to do if we are to accomplish any research at all. Since you have > been in White County you have been available (and invaluable) for research to > help solve any genealogy question we throw at you and your computer. I know > nothing of the reasoning behind the exodus of you three angels, but I do know > that the Library will not hum with the same tune that it has in the past > years. You will most assuredly be sorely missed. > > Pardon me. I have to go do my crying now. > Shirley Malone Fritsche > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: RE: [ILWHITE] So this is good-bye... > Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 17:16:57 -0700 > From: "Carolyn White" <intrees@pacifier.com> > To: ILWHITE-L@rootsweb.com > > Shirley and All, > > I think you have put into wonderful word the feeling that many of us > have. > > As I limp and struggle along trying to research my father's line in > Pennsylvania I often find myself telling others of all the available > material that can be found in Illinois , especially White Co. And of the > very helpful people , always willing to do more. > > Carolyn Campbell White > > -----Original Message----- > From: BeeandBop31@aol.com [mailto:BeeandBop31@aol.com] > Sent: Friday, September 06, 2002 4:09 PM > To: ILWHITE-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [ILWHITE] So this is good-bye... > > Pat, > I could cry! For several years now you three have been my friends even > though we have never met. I have notes from Janet and Charlene in my files > that they kindly sent me in addition to whatever I had requested. Most > people would have sent the books or whatever I had written them for, but > they > went beyond the "duty" their volunteer status dictated and wrote the notes > offering more helpful information than I had any right to expect. > > As for you - I relied on you even before you moved to White County. Your > books have been invaluable for the armchair research that many (most?) of us > are forced to do if we are to accomplish any research at all. Since you > have > been in White County you have been available (and invaluable) for research > to > help solve any genealogy question we throw at you and your computer. I know > nothing of the reasoning behind the exodus of you three angels, but I do > know > that the Library will not hum with the same tune that it has in the past > years. You will most assuredly be sorely missed. > > Pardon me. I have to go do my crying now. > Shirley Malone Fritsche > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go > to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Re: [ILWHITE] So this is good-bye... > Date: Fri, 06 Sep 2002 22:52:58 -0500 > From: Cindy Birk Conley <cbconly@midwest.net> > To: ILWHITE-L@rootsweb.com > > Listmembers, > > I, too, was saddened to read Charlene's column in today's Carmi paper. > We have had a summer of meetings of the historical society and its Mary > Smith Fay trust committee, and hoped that some important compromises had > been reached after a joint meeting on August 26th. I had considered the > problems to be the normal "growing pains" of the library. However, Ms. > Davis resigned the next day and Mrs. Armstrong and Mrs. Shields soon > indicated their intentions to generally cease their association with the > library. Charlene and Janet were my mentors in genealogy, and all three > women have given many, many hours to genealogy. > > However, the White County historical society has employed a new > librarian, and has the same library chair and most of the same > volunteers who have served for several years. It may take a long time > for the library to operate as efficiently as it has in the past, and for > awhile the library is going to have to concentrate on service rather > than publishing new books. > > If anyone is interested in more of the non-genealogy details please > email me privately. Do remember that the library has new hours, > developed from a review of volunteer and patron comments: Tuesday > through Friday, 11:30 am to 4:30 pm. Saturday hours will be available by > appointment. Please contact the library at 618-382-8425 for more > information. > > Cindy Birk Conley > Treasurer, White County Historical Society > White County GenWeb Coordinator > > ______________________________ > > Subject: [ILWHITE] (ILWHITE) So this is good-bye... > Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2002 02:03:39 -0500 > From: "Janet Armstrong" <jawchs@midwest.net> > To: ILWHITE-L@rootsweb.com > > Shirley and Carolyn, > > Thank you very much for the kind words. And to Johanna, Marian, Janice, Debbie K., Lee, Kathleen, Ron S., and all my other genealogy friends, I will be missing all of you but I will always think of you. For the past two years I wasn't in the Mary S. Fay Gen'l Library much, but was there for support and their calls when they wanted to know about some of the older things in the library. > > I had a lot of health problems, not serious, but as my doctor said, many aggravating conditions. I stayed home so much, thinking of my pains, that I was rapidly getting old. But I am greatly improved !! This recent problem at the library has brought me back to life. My daughter said, "Mom, I haven't seen this much enthusiasm from you in a long time." I am back on my computer and doing my own family research. I won't be in the library as a volunteer, but will grab my cane and go there to use the wonderful books, disks, films, and equipment, most of which were made possible by my friend, Mary Fay. > > I am still on line and would like to hear from all of you at times. My e-Mail address is jawchs@midwest.net. I am also back on ILWHITE-L. Janet Armstrong